JP2007088744A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a system capable of copying and printing directly on a CD-R or DVD-R without using a personal computer, image and character information taken from an image reading device (scanner). Then, the user can print a desired image on the surface of the electronic information recording medium with a simple work, thereby eliminating the troublesome work of the personal computer.
While confirming an image read and input by a scanner with a viewer as an image display means, an image size and a position to be printed are determined according to enlargement / reduction or trimming of the image to be printed on the screen. Printing directly on CD-R and DVD-R, which are electronic information recording media set in the recording device unit.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The field of the present invention uses a multifunction printer (also known as MFP) that is a multi-function machine designed based on an inkjet recording apparatus, and without using a personal computer, captures image and character information captured from an image reading apparatus (scanner). The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having a system that enables direct printing on a CD-R or DVD-R.

  With the recent spread of digital cameras, photographed images are increasingly stored as various digital media as digital data. Users usually store and store digital data once in the hard disk of a personal computer in order to organize and store it.

  However, as the functionality of digital cameras increases and the resolution improves, the image file gradually increases. What used to be the 2 million pixel class is now becoming a popular device, but the 5 million pixel class is becoming a popular machine. Then it has exceeded 10 million pixels. Due to such changes in the environment, the file size of photographs taken has increased, and the hard disk, which is a storage means in the personal computer, has been pressed to feel the limits.

  Here, not only photos but also video distribution services such as music distribution and movies are becoming popular along with broadbandization, and the demand for storing a large amount of digitized data is also increasing.

  For this reason, it has become essential to save photo data once saved in the hard disk of a personal computer to an MO or CD-R in order to back it up to an external electronic recording medium. Fortunately, recent PCs have more CD-R writing functions and DVD-R compatible machines, and at the same time, CD-R and DVD-R, which are electronic information recording media, are cheaper and easier for users to purchase. Data backup has become possible.

  In such an environment, there is an increasing demand for titles and images to be printed on the surface of the copied CD-R so that the user can organize the data to be copied to a CD-R or DVD-R. Recently, labels CD-R and DVD-R compatible with ink-jet recording apparatuses have come out, and the surface is in a so-called white paper state, and processing suitable for ink-jet recording is performed. That is, the user can freely input images and characters, and can organize duplicated CD-Rs and DVD-Rs.

  Recording device vendors have established a mechanism for installing a CD-R in the recording device, and developed and commercialized an application for printing. Using a personal computer, printing was performed via the printer driver after processing images and inputting characters using an application.

  However, there has not been proposed a method for directly copying and printing on the surface of a CD-R or DVD-R, which is an electronic information recording medium, using a multi-function printer (also known as MFP). In this application, the image and text information captured from the image reading device (scanner) can be copied and printed directly onto a CD-R or DVD-R without a personal computer. Can be easily. This eliminates the hassle of setting up applications without a computer.

In addition, Patent Documents 1 to 4 can be cited as other conventional examples.
JP-A-10-28231 JP 2003-274138 A JP 2001-103227 A JP 2003-59113 A

  Proposals have been made to directly print and record title images and characters on CD-R and DVD-R, which are electronic information recording media represented by inkjet recording devices. With the spread of digital cameras in recent years, in order to organize photographed images, they are often stored and saved in a hard disk of a personal computer.

  However, as the resolution of digital cameras improves, the image file gradually grows and presses the hard disk that is the storage means. For this reason, it has become increasingly common to store data on an MO or CD-R for backup to external electronic recording media. In recent years, the opportunity to write all kinds of electronic data such as images, music and data to CD-R and DVD-R has been increasing, and it has become possible to copy it inexpensively and easily.

  The CD-R and DVD-R are pre-processed so that titles and images can be printed on the surface in advance, and so-called blank sheets are often sold as labels CD-R and DVD-R. The user can freely set an arbitrary image or character for printing.

  Printing on the surface of these electronic information recording media has been proposed based on an inkjet recording apparatus. During implementation, images are processed and characters are input within a CD-R printing application on a personal computer. Thereafter, printing is performed by sending data to a recording apparatus via a printer driver.

  By using a multifunction printer (also known as MFP), which is a multi-function device, images and text information captured from an image reading device (scanner) can be copied directly to a CD-R or DVD-R without a personal computer. Enables a system that enables The user can print a desired image on the surface of the electronic information recording medium with a simple work, and can eliminate the troublesome work of the personal computer.

  The multifunction printer is equipped with an image reading device (hereinafter also referred to as a scanner). In addition, the recording apparatus main body is provided with display means (hereinafter also referred to as a viewer) for displaying the read image, and many have been proposed that allow the user to see the image to be printed. The recording apparatus not only prints ordinary paper, but also has printing recording means for CD-R and DVD-R which are electronic information recording media.

  Up to now, various proposals have been made as multifunction devices, but there was no way to print images read without a personal computer directly onto CD-R or DVD-R electronic recording media.

  Conventionally, a PC is used for images to be printed, and image layout and character input are processed by an application for CD printing. There was a hassle of printing on a CD-R or DVD-R set in a recording device via a printer driver according to the data.

  In the present application, while confirming an image read and input by a scanner with a viewer which is an image display means, the image size and position to be printed are determined according to enlargement / reduction or trimming operation of the image to be printed on the screen, It can be directly printed on CD-R and DVD-R which are electronic information recording media set in the recording device unit.

  First, scan the image or document you want to print or the image printed on the original CD surface with a scanner. The read image can be automatically stored in the memory with its position information and size through a circuit in the main body of the recording apparatus. Next, the read image is displayed on a liquid crystal viewer which is an image display means and set to print. The viewer displays a circular frame (frame) that is almost the same shape as the CD-R so that it can be easily printed on the CD-R, so that you can see what image can be printed at which position. It is like that.

  In the viewer, enlargement and trimming of the image can be freely set, and the user can arbitrarily set the image. When the image setting is confirmed, a print command is issued. By doing so, designated image printing is performed on the surface of a CD-R or DVD-R, which is another printable electronic information recording medium preset in the recording apparatus.

  According to the present invention, when printing images or text information on the surface of a CD-R or DVD-R as an electronic information recording medium by a printing device having a scanner as a reading means and a print recording unit, Duplicate printing can be done easily without an external device, eliminating the hassle of previous operations.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a multifunction printer which is a representative example for explaining the present application. Reference numeral 100 denotes a recording apparatus, and reference numeral 101 denotes a scanner which is a reading apparatus, which is integrated with the recording apparatus. Reference numeral 102 denotes a viewer, which is a display means for displaying an image read by a scanner, and is a commonly used liquid crystal monitor.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a setting key that can be set by the user, and the image on the viewer can be arbitrarily moved, enlarged, reduced, or trimmed by operating the up, down, left, and right keys. Reference numeral 104 denotes a printed matter such as a document to be printed or an image such as a photograph. Reference numeral 105 denotes a medium such as a CD-R or DVD-R which is an electronic information recording medium, which has a specification capable of printing on the surface.

  The CD-R or DVD-R is a label CD-R / DVD-R that is printable by inkjet and can be printed directly. Reference numeral 106 denotes a tray, which is devised so that the position information of the CD-R or DVD-R, which is the electronic information recording medium, can be read accurately before printing by an optical sensor (not shown) in the recording apparatus. The tray 106 is provided with a reflecting plate indicating position information, color is changed, or a hole is made to improve reading accuracy.

  First, a photograph or image 104 to be printed is placed on the reading apparatus 101. In FIG. 1, the image 104 to be read is displayed on the front side for easy understanding, but in practice, the image portion is generally set with the back side, and the reading means on the lower side is scanned. Next, the reading device is closed after the cover of the reading device is closed to prevent the photograph from floating. The start is performed by pressing various setting keys installed on the recording apparatus 100.

  When the image is read, the read image is displayed on the viewer 102 as image display means on the recording apparatus.

  When the setting for printing the CD-R is performed on the viewer 102, a CD frame (an image of a defined frame on a substantially circular shape) in the internal memory of the recording apparatus is displayed. Specific operations will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

  The user can match the size of the scanned image to the CD-R to be printed. In FIG. 2a, since the read image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor (viewer) 102, the user determines the image size and position by enlarging / reducing or trimming the image. If the image is too large and you want to make it smaller, set it smaller in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. 2b, and fit the image into the CD frame.

  The inserted character can be input using simple software built in the recording apparatus, and is input by a key on a recording apparatus (not shown). Also, it can be used as a system that can input characters freely by connecting a keyboard separately via an interface such as USB.

  When the image and characters to be printed are determined, when a print key on the recording apparatus 100 (not shown) is pressed, image printing is started on the CD-R surface set in the recording apparatus section. Whether the positional information and the size of the CD-R set in advance with the CD-R set in advance is read or not is read by an optical sensor (not shown) installed in the printing portion of the recording apparatus. The optical sensor can obtain the position of the tray and the position of the CD-R by using a red LED or white LED as previously proposed.

  FIG. 3 shows a specific flowchart for easy understanding. The flow of each step (abbreviated as ST) will be described.

  Since ST1 to ST7 have been described above, a description thereof will be omitted. In ST8, the tray position on which the CD-R is set and the CD-R position are automatically detected to determine where to print. When it is determined in ST9 that the detection information is correct, the process proceeds to ST10 and printing is started. If it is recognized that the CD-R is not set correctly, the process proceeds to ST12 and the automatic detection operation is repeated.

  If it is determined that it is not set correctly even after three executions, the process proceeds to ST13 and an error is displayed on the viewer 102 screen. The displayed contents are displayed so as to prompt the user to set the CD-R again. However, the display contents are not specified and may be any means for achieving the purpose. If it is set normally, the printing operation of ST10 is performed, the discharging operation is performed in ST11, and the process is terminated.

  In this way, images that have been printed on a CD-R through a PC application and printer driver until now are scanned with a multifunction function scanner, the position information detection sensor, and memory storage in the recording device. Since it can be printed directly according to the information, CD-R printing can be easily performed without troublesome work.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows an overview of the recording apparatus. A CD-R that has been created once will be copied. This is an easy way to make a copy of a CD-R in order to give digital photos taken at travel destinations to multiple friends with the recent spread of digital cameras.

  When creating multiple copies at once, CD-R printing using a PC is sufficient, but if you use this function, you can copy without a PC. In addition to simply copying the image printed on the surface of the CD-R once created, it can be read as it is, for example, by writing the name of the other party or inserting the actual material such as fallen leaves into the CD according to the season Makes it easy to print on a CD-R.

  FIG. 5a reads an image printed on the surface of the original CD with a scanner. An image is displayed on the viewer 102. If characters and images are added here, they can be processed.

  FIG. 5B shows the CD frame in the recording apparatus displayed by setting to print on the CD-R, and the read image is matched with the CD frame. If the dimensions are the same, there is no particular need to match the sizes, and printing can proceed.

  However, if the printed CD-R is of MD size, it will be necessary to match the size.

  FIG. 6 will be described for each step (hereinafter abbreviated as ST). In this embodiment, an actual CD as an original image is placed directly on the reading unit of the scanner. The image printed on the surface of the CD is read in ST21, and the position information and image where the CD is placed are read in ST22 and 23. Auto detect size. In ST24, the read information is stored in the memory in the recording apparatus, and in ST25, the information is displayed on the viewer 102 as image display means based on the information.

  If enlargement, reduction or trimming of the read image is necessary, the process proceeds to ST26. User setting can be arbitrarily made by a setting key on the recording apparatus. Since ST27 and subsequent steps have been described in the first embodiment, they are omitted here.

  FIG. 7 shows a processing flow in a recording apparatus without a viewer as a display means, and each step is almost the same as that described in FIG. Read position information and images with a scanner, store the information in the memory of the recording device, and perform duplicate printing on another CD-R or DVD-R installed in the recording device based on the information. Thus, it is possible to easily duplicate the original image without a PC.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. This is an example of a recording apparatus without a viewer for displaying an image read by a scanner. Without a viewer, the user cannot directly check the read image. Therefore, this is an example in which an auxiliary member is used to achieve a simple replication function. FIG. 8 is an overview of a multifunction printer. Reference numeral 801 denotes an auxiliary member having a hole of substantially the same size as the CD at the center. By setting the original CD 802 here and then placing it on the reading unit of the scanner, the CD position detection capability is enhanced.

  FIG. 9 shows a state in which the original CD 802 is attached to the CD set tray 801. The CD is set with the printed image part facing down. Here, the CD set tray can be detached independently, but it may be attached to the lid portion of the reading device. As described above, the CD tray 801 has a substantially circular hole. However, the CD tray 801 is not specified and may be anything that can be easily read by a scanner. For example, it is possible to provide other auxiliary holes at the four corners of the circle. An example is shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b.

  The auxiliary holes in FIGS. 10a and 10b can read the shape and position of the CD tray as the auxiliary member 801 with respect to the image of the original CD read by the scanner. The result is once stored in the memory in the recording apparatus, and duplicate printing is executed on the surface of another CD-R installed in the recording apparatus according to the data. The flowchart may be executed in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 described in the second embodiment.

  As explained above, it is now possible to easily make duplicate prints with the MFP, which is a multi-function device, without the hassle of using a personal computer or special applications.

Overview of the recording apparatus of the first embodiment of the present application a and b are images showing specific examples displayed on the image display means (viewer) Sequence flow related to the first embodiment Overview of the recording apparatus of the second embodiment a and b are images showing specific examples displayed on the image display means (viewer) Sequence flow in the second embodiment Other sequence flow in the second embodiment Overview of the recording apparatus of the third embodiment Overview of CD set tray a and b are other examples of CD trays

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Recording apparatus 101 Scanner which is reading apparatus 102 Viewer which is image display means 103 Function setting key installed on the recording apparatus 104 Document, image 105 Electronic information recording medium 106 Tray on which electronic information recording medium is installed 110 Original image and CD
201 A substantially circular frame image displayed on the image display unit 801 CD set tray 901 CD tray hole 902 CD tray hole

Claims (8)

  In a recording apparatus for printing an image on the surface of an electronic information recording medium, means for reading an image, display means for displaying the read image, and a substantially circular information recording medium shape frame indicating a printing range on the display means, And recording the image data formed by superimposing the captured image on the frame onto the surface of an electronic information recording medium installed in a print recording unit.   The image set by the image display means is capable of arbitrary enlargement ratio change and trimming, and is directly copied and printed on an electronic information recording medium installed in a print recording unit based on the information. Item 2. The recording device according to Item 1.   3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic information recording medium is a CD / CD-R or DVD / DVD-R capable of electronic recording.   In a recording apparatus for printing an image on the surface of an electronic information recording medium, the recording apparatus has an image reading unit and a unit for detecting position information of the image, and reads the image printed on the surface of the electronic information recording medium by the reading unit to And a position are automatically detected, and an image is duplicated and printed on the surface of another electronic information recording medium installed in the print recording unit based on the information.   5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the electronic information recording medium is a CD / CD-R or DVD / DVD-R capable of electronic recording.   In a recording apparatus that prints an image on the surface of an electronic information recording medium, an auxiliary member corresponding to the electronic information recording medium is installed in the image reading unit, position information is determined, and a printing recording unit unit based on the read image information A recording apparatus that duplicates and prints an image on the surface of another electronic information recording medium installed in the computer.   The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the auxiliary member for the electronic information recording medium is provided with a substantially circular cavity.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording method for printing on the electronic information recording medium is an inkjet recording method.

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